Clifford Chance Paris Trio Form New Firm

Three lawyers from Clifford Chance's Paris office have formed a new independent law firm in the French capital, specialising in dispute resolution.

The trio – which includes one partner – come from the Magic Circle firm's 12-partner-strong dispute resolution team in Paris.

The new set up is led by Jean-Pierre Grandjean, who has been a dispute resolution partner at Clifford Chance after 17 years and is a former head of the practice. With him to Grandjean Avocats go dispute resolution counsel Marguerite Aynès and associate Thomas Lambard, who have been made partners in the new firm.

Grandjean Avocats started the administrative process to set up in February and formally launched last week. It has twoassociates and support staff.

Aynes said: “Jean-Pierre wanted a new adventure. After all, he’s been at Clifford Chance for 17 years and at another boutique firm for 17 years before that.

"He proposed to us that we join him and it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. He has been our mentor over the years; he’s trained us to be the lawyers we are today.”

The firm aims to stay a boutique and will specialise only in dispute resolution.

Aynes said: “We feel there is a need in the market at the moment for a smaller firm with partners and associates who have strong expertise in this area. We have built this expertise together in Clifford Chance – we’ve worked on highly regarded disputes – but now we wish to develop our ability to appear as mediators and arbitrators. And this is going to be much easier as an independent firm because there won’t be any conflict of interest.”